DV swim team remains undefeated

The Delaware Valley High School swim team defeated Abington Heights in a dual of the undefeated at their final home meet of the year on February 5. The DV boys’ team won the meet 109-76, while the girls’ team battled to a 95-90 victory.

It was Senior Night for the Warriors and the seniors came prepared for battle. Abington came for the fight but came up just short against DV’s depth.

Fourteen Warrior seniors were honored during the evening. Each member has been a strong contributor to the team. The seniors honored were Olivia Cruz, Payton Yakupcin, Jessica Willson, Michelle Zakharova, Maya Sussman, Etain Starr, Eva Bogusta, Dean Finelli, Liam Fass, Nate Elabdouni, Joseph Kessler, Tyler Ingraham, Shane Natural, and Nick Colon.

These same seniors led the charge against Abington. For the Lady Warriors, the relay teams of Maya Sussman, Olivia Cruz, Grace Holderith, and Kayleigh Jagger, and Riley Hunt, Chloe Cruz, Elizabeth Bailey and Isabella Cady started the scoring, placing second and third in the 200-medley relay to keep the scoring close. The boys’ team led off the scoring with the teams of Liam Fass, Thomas Zaucha, Shane Naturale, and Joseph Kessler placing first, with John Calabria, Dylan Sevek, Colin O’Conner and Samuel Fisher placing second.

In the 200-freestyle, Abington’s Gianna placed first. The point lead narrowed as DV’s Michelle Zakharova, Eva Bogusta, and Riley Hunt placed second, third, and fourth. Tyler Ingraham, Dean Finelli and Thomas Zaucha placed first, second, and fourth to stretch their lead.

Olivia Cruz and Maya Sussman continued to pressure the Comets by placing second and fourth in the 200 individual medley. Ryan O’Connell placed first in the event, Samuel Fisher stretched for a second place finish, and Colin O’Conner joined the scoring by placing fifth.

For the 50-yard freestyle, Abington’s speedy Kaitly Giermanski edged out a win over DV’s Payton Yakupcin. The Warriors also placed third (Chloe Cruz) and fourth (Isabella Cady) to keep the scoring tight. Derek Williams of Abington stretched pass DV’s Joseph Kessler, Shane Naturale, and Dylan Sevek who took second, third and fourth.

DV’s Starr Etain placed first in the dive portion of the evening, scoring 199.60 and six points for the team. Her teammate Jessica Wilson scored 172.90 and four points by placing second. Benjamin Kruler placed second for the men by scoring 243.70, earning four points.

During the return to the swim portion of the evening, Grace Holderith place second, Elizabith Bailey placed fourth and Megan O’Connell placed fifth in the 100 butterfly. Jason Casper of Abington captured first for the boys in the butterfly. Warrior Dean Finelli reached past Shane Naturale to take second. John Calabria took fourth.

In the 100 freestyle, the Lady Warriors’ Payton Yakupcin, Riley Hunt and Eva Bogusta took second, third and fourth. Ryan O’Connell, Joseph Kessler and Samuel Fisher followed suit.

The 500 freestyle found the Warrior girls slipping, with Michell Zakharova falling to third behind the Comets and Kayleigh Jagger taking fifth. Tyler Ingraham (first) outpaced Liam Fass (second) to win the 500. Their teammate Nick Colon placed fifth.

With the scoring tight, the Warriors team of Olivia Cruz, Riley Hunt, Michelle Zakharova and Payton Yakupcin steamed over the Comets, taking first in the 200-freestyle relay. The team of Eva Bogusta, Kayleigh Jagger, Grace Holderith, and Isabella Cady placed third. Abington boys stretched past the DV team of Joseph Kessler, Tyler Ingraham, Dean Finelli and Ryan O’Connell, who came up just short, placing second. DV’s Samuel Fisher, Dylan Sevek, Thomas Zaucha and Shane Naturale placed third to add to the point total.

Maya Sussman placed second in the 100 backstroke. Her teammate Megan O’Connell placed fourth. Liam Fass and John Calabria placed first and second with Colin O’Connor taking fourth.

The Cruz sisters, Olivia and Chloe, roared into action taking first and second in the 100 breaststroke. Teammate Mariana Wyss placed fourth to again bring the Lady Warriors into the lead. Following their example, Thomas Zaucha steamed to a first-place finish over Abington’s Azar 1:11.23 to 1:11.26. Dylen Sevek took third and Kaden Sublett fifth.

All eyes were on the pool for the final event, the 400-freestyle relay. The Warrior girls needed to place second or above to win the meet. Payton Yakupcin, Chloe Cruz, Maya Sussman, and Michelle Zakharova met the challenge, taking second and scoring enough to maintain the win. For the boys, Ryan O’Connell, Dean Finelli, Liam Fass, and Tyler Ingraham placed first to finish the meet.

Delaware Valley will finish out the regular season next week before moving on to districts.